Which conjunctivitis is more associated with seasonal outbreaks?

• A. AKC
• B. GPC
• C. VKC
• D. EKC

Answer: (C)

Seasonal exposure to environmental allergens like pollen drives a pattern of conjunctival inflammation that recurs each spring. This seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is most characteristic of Vernal keratoconjunctivitis, which tends to flare in warm months and in children. It presents with intense itching, tearing, photophobia, and often thick ropy discharge, along with distinctive eye surface findings such as large papillae on the upper tarsal conjunctiva and limbal changes with Horner-Trantas dots.

In contrast, atopic keratoconjunctivitis is a chronic, often nonseasonal condition linked to overall atopy; epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is caused by adenovirus and tends to occur in outbreaks but not specifically tied to a season; giant papillary conjunctivitis is usually a response to contact lenses or ocular implants and isn’t seasonal.

So, the association with seasonal outbreaks points to Vernal keratoconjunctivitis as the form most linked to seasonal patterns.